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To recognize the 35th Anniversary of Lifeline of Ohio and to support Donate Life Month in the City of Columbus by encouraging residents to consider sharing the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donations.
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WHEREAS Donate Life month, is traditionally recognized each year during the month of April - it is a time when Donate Life organizations from across the country strive to make LIFE possible by educating and motivating individuals to register their decision to be organ, eye and tissue donors; however this year’s observance was delayed due to the COVID -19 Pandemic; and
WHEREAS, More than 108,000 men, women, and children are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant in the United States; Approximately 20 times a day a person dies for lack of an available organ; Ohio has more than 3,100 people awaiting an organ transplant at any one time - Central Ohio has more than 700 men, women and children currently listed for an organ transplant at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center or Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and
WHEREAS, the high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, hepatitis B and C, results in racial minorities being disproportionally represented on transplant waiting lists - Organ transplantation positively impacts patient survival but greater access is limited by a severe donor shortage - African Americans make up the largest group in need of a transplant - in fact according to the National Kidney Foundation only 17% of African Americans needing a transplant received one; and
WHEREAS, A single donor can potentially save the lives of eight people through organ donation by donating their heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys and small intestine, and enhance the lives of more than 75 others through tissue donation by donating corneas, veins, heart valves, fascia, bone, skins, tendons, ligaments and nerves; and
WHEREAS, For 35 years, Lifeline of Ohio, the local organ procurement organization serving this area has been empowering the community to save and heal lives through organ, eye and tissue donations; and
WHEREAS, More than 5.7 million Ohioans have made the important decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor in the Ohio Donor Registry, but the need for more registered donors is still great; and
WHEREAS, Lifeline of Ohio has partnered with its colleagues throughout the state of Ohio to educate and unite Ohioans around the solution to our shortage of registered donors by hosting “Don’t Wait, Save 8” on October 8 - Ohio’s first-ever online organ donation registration drive inspiring citizens to register as organ, eye and tissue donors; and
WHEREAS, Ohioans can learn more about donation and participate in “Don’t Wait, Save 8” by visiting www.donatelifeohio.org; and
WHEREAS, Discussing your donation decision with your family is one of the most important additional steps a family can take after registering as an organ donor; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize the 35th Anniversary of Lifeline of Ohio and to support Donate Life Month in the City of Columbus by encouraging residents to consider sharing the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donations.